Table top ball game

ABSTRACT

Ball game having a two-sided tower, one side associated with each playing competitor. The tower has a base supporting two sets of five tubes, each associated with one team. The tubes have five key holes aligned vertically. Each team has twenty five keys numbered from 1 to 25. Each team has five balls; four unmarked, one marked. The teams place the keys into key holes on its tubes. Next, the teams place one ball in each tube, the balls prevented from falling through the tubes by ball-blocking portions of keys. The teams alternate directing their opponents to remove one key. The removed key is surrendered to the requesting team, who places the key into its key track. Once all five keys have been removed from one tube, the ball falls through the tube, onto a ramp and into the team&#39;s ball pit. The object is to guess the correct combination of keys to be removed to release the opponent&#39;s marked ball.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a table-top ball game. More specifically the present invention is a table-top ball game where playing competitors utilize a two-sided table-top tower having key-holed tubes and attempt to win the game by determining the correct combination of keys thereby releasing the opponent's marked ball.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a table top ball game having a playing console. The playing console is a two-sided tower, one side associated with each of two playing competitors. The tower has a base which supports two sets of five hollow tubes, each set of tubes associated with one team. The tubes each have five key holes aligned vertically. Each team has twenty five marked keys, each of the twenty five keys numbered sequentially from 1 to 25. Each team has five balls; four are unmarked, and one is marked. The teams randomly place the keys into the key holes on its tubes. Once the keys are positioned, the teams place the five balls into the five tubes, one ball in each tube, which balls are prevented from falling through the tubes by ball-blocking portions of the keys. To play the game, the teams alternate directing their opponents to remove one of the keys from one of the tubes. The removed key is surrendered to the requesting team, who then places the key into a key track on its side, thereby keeping track of the keys that have been removed. Once all five keys have been removed from one tube, the ball is free to fall. The ball falls through the tube, onto a ramp and into the team's ball pit. The object of the game is to guess the correct combination of keys to be removed from the key holes to release the opponent's marked ball. Play alternates back and forth, each team directing the other to remove one key at a time. If no ball unmarked ball is released, or if an unmarked ball is released, play continues. When one team has directed the correct combination of keys to be removed, the opponent's marked ball is released, rolls down the ramp, and into the ball pit. The team that first guesses the combination of keys to release the opponent's marked ball is the winner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description of an exemplary embodiment thereof, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the table-top console of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the table-top console of the present invention showing the keys and balls in their playing positions.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the table-top console of the present invention showing an exploded cut-away view of the base.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the twenty five keys associated which each of the two playing competitors of the present invention.

FIG. 4 a is a front view of one of the keys of the present invention.

FIG. 4 b is a left side view of one of the keys of the present invention.

FIG. 4 c is a top view of one of the keys of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the balls of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the storage bag of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a table-top ball game kit and a method of playing same which game can be played by two or more playing competitors or teams of players. Generally, the game comprises a two-sided table-top playing console in the form of a tower, a plurality of keys associated with each player or team of players, and a plurality of balls associated with each player or team of players. The table top console includes key-holed tubes for the reception of the balls and the keys.

Looking first at FIG. 1, a table-top playing console unit 100 in the form of a tower is provided. The table-top playing console is freestanding on the base 102 for placement on a table or floor. Extending upward from the base is a central divider 104 which serves to separate the table-top console into two playing sides, one for each player or team. As designated here, the two teams are referred to as the “red team” and the “blue team”. The central divider also serves to prevent a playing competitor from observing the actions of its opponents. On each playing side of the central divider are situated a plurality of ball-receiving tubes 106 which tubes are cylinders and are attached to and supported by the central divider. The tubes need not be cylinders, although they are shown as cylinders here in this disclosure. In the preferred embodiment shown here, each team has five ball-receiving tubes. Each of the ball-receiving tubes is hollow and has an entry hole 107 at its top so that each can receive a playing ball. The interior diameter of each cylindrical tube is approximately ⅝ inch. The tubes are preferably formed from transparent plastic, so each team can view the contents of its own tubes. Each of the tubes has a plurality of key holes in the shape of slots 108, five being the preferred plurality, with each tube including an equal number of key holes. The key-hole slots are situated on the front of the tubes. As such, in the game kit shown, there are a total of 25 key-hole slots, five on each of the five tubes. The 25 keys holes are arranged vertically on the front of each of the cylinders, each of the key holes being generally rectangular in configuration and having approximate dimensions of ½ inch in length by 1/16 inch in height. Preferably, the key-hole slots are extended back into the back wall of the tubes, thereby allowing keys to enter into and be supported by the key-hole slots on both the front and back of the tubes.

The base 102 of the table top unit serves as a support for the entire unit. As such, the base of the console is a generally rectangular box having side walls. Extending outward to the right and left side of the base are the receiving areas for the playing balls designated as the ball pits 110. The ball pit for each player or team is located on the right side of the table-top unit as each player faces the unit. At the front of each side of the base is situated a key track 112 which key track includes key slots 114 for the reception of keys. On each side of the base, there are an equivalent number of key slots as there are key slots on each set of tubes. The key track on each team's side is a front wall of the console that extends up further than the front wall of the base of the console. Now, extending horizontally from the top of the key tracks is a tube-support horizontal wall 115 to which the cylindrical tubes 106 are attached. The tube support barrier has apertures which coordinate and are aligned with the bottom of the hollow tubes to allow balls to fall from the tubes into the base.

As best seen in the cutaway view of FIG. 3, a ramp 116 is positioned on each side of the playing console which ramp is situated under the apertures on the tube support barrier. The ramp extends angularly downward from the horizontal support barrier 115 to the bottom of the base. As such, when a ball drops through a cylindrical tube and through the aperture on the support barrier, the ball rolls down the ramp and rolls into the ball pit 110.

Now, looking at FIGS. 4 and 4 a, 4 b and 4 c, each team is provided with keys 200. Specifically, each team has the same number of keys for which there are key slots. As such, in the game kit shown, each team has 25 keys. Each of the keys has a vertical front face 202, the front face of each key numbered sequentially from 1 to the number of key slots on the cylinders. As such, in the game shown here, the keys are numbered from 1 to 25, but the demarcation could be other indicators instead of numbers. (For example, the keys could be marked with letters, symbols, or the like, so long as all of the markings are different.) Moreover, each of the keys has an indication on its front face of the team with which the keys are associated. For example, the keys would typically have a blue face for association with the blue team and a red face for association with the red team. Thus, in the game embodiment shown, there are a total of 50 keys: blue keys numbered sequentially from 1 to 25 and red keys numbered sequentially from 1 to 25. The keys also have a horizontal ball-blocking portion 204, which horizontal portion is generally perpendicular to the key's vertical face. As shown, the horizontal ball-blocking portion of the key has an approximate depth of 13/16 inch and a width of approximately ½ inch. Therefore, the key is just wide enough to fit snugly into the key holes (both the key holes on the cylinders and the key holes on the key track 112.)

Additional, looking now at FIG. 5, each team is provided with playing balls 300, each playing competitor having an equivalent number of playing balls to the number of tubes on its side of the playing console. Thus, in the game kit shown herein, each team has five balls corresponding with the five cylinders. Four of the balls are similar to each other and unmarked. One of the balls 302 is dissimilar in that it includes a different marking from the other four balls. Specifically, four of the balls are unmarked (black) balls, and the other fifth ball is colored in a different color, for example green. The green ball 302 is known as “The Money Ball”. All five of the balls are substantially the same in size, approximately ½ inch in diameter. Since the diameter of the balls is slightly smaller than the interior diameter of the tubes, the balls can be inserted easily into the entry holes of the tubes. Since each team is provided with four unmarked (black) balls and one marked (green ball, called “The Money Ball”), the game kit includes ten game balls in total.

A storage bag 400 is provided as part of the game kit. The storage bag may be utilized to store the keys and the balls when the game is not in use.

The object of the game is for one player or team to locate the opponent's marked (green) ball and cause it to roll down through the tube in which it has been placed and roll down the ramp into the ball pit. To locate the marked ball, each team directs its opponent to remove keys from its key hole on a tube, one key at a time.

To begin the game, each team selects one side of the tower, either the blue side or the red side. Now, each team takes the twenty five keys associated with the team. As such, the blue team gathers the twenty five sequentially-numbered keys that are associated with the blue team, and the red team does the same. Each team now randomly places each of the twenty five keys into each of the twenty five key-hole slots in the tubes on its side of the table-top console. The keys are placed randomly; not necessarily in any predetermined order, and each team must place all twenty five keys into one of the keys slots. No keys will be unemployed in the game. Once each team has placed all twenty five keys into its key hole slots, one of each of its five balls are placed into the five tubes. Specifically, one ball is placed into one of the cylinders so all five cylinders contain one ball; the players are not permitted to place more than one ball into any tube. None of the balls are permitted to be placed into a cylinder until all twenty five keys have been put into place. Once the balls have been placed into the cylinders, the location of the balls and the location of the keys may not be altered.

The keys in each of the tubes serve to support the ball that is in that tube. In other words, the balls rest on the horizontal ball-blocking portion 204 preventing it from falling down further into the tube. It is understood, that when all five balls are removed from one tube, the ball inserted into that tube will fall freely. Once all five keys are removed from a tube, the ball in that tube will fall through the tube and through the aperture on the tube-support horizontal wall 115. Now the ball will fall onto the ramp 116, will roll down the ramp and will roll into the ball pit 110 of the team.

Now, once all of the keys and balls have been placed, the game is played according to the rules set forth. The object of the game is for one competitor to beat the opponent by choosing the combination of the keys to be removed from the key holes in order to release the marked ball. Taking turns, each competitor calls for its opponent competitor to remove one of its keys from its key hole slot on a tube. Specifically, the team will instruct the opponent team to remove a key bearing a particular number from its key slot. Upon the opponent's request, a team does remove the key from its key hole on a tube. The key is then turned over to the opposing team (the team that requested the removal of the key from the key hole) and the key is inserted into the key hole slot 114 bearing the appropriate number on the team's key track 112. In this manner, each team can keep track of the keys removed from the opponent's tubes.

Now, when all five keys are removed from one particular tube, the ball that has been placed into that tube will fall freely, as it is no longer being supported by the ball-blocking portion of the keys. The ball will fall through the tube, through the ball aperture on the tube-support horizontal wall 115, and onto the ramp 116. Now, the ball rolls down the ramp and into the ball pit 110. The competitor that requested the removal of the keys is hopeful that the ball that has entered into the ball pit is the marked ball (The Money Ball.) If so, hurray!, that competitor wins. If the ball that entered into the ball pit is not the marked ball, then play continues until there is a winner.

The game is fun for all ages, abilities and levels of education. There is little or no memorization involved as the teams retain the opponent competitor's keys in its key track. As such, this game is basically a guessing game, i.e. each team tries to guess the correct combination of keys to release the marked ball. As such, the only real ability one must have is the ability to count from 1 to 25. Moreover, this game can never end up in a tie, as the teams alternate pulling keys until the marked ball is released. Finally, the game is exciting as one never knows when the marked ball will be released. The excitement is heightened when the players hear the sound of one of the released balls rolling down the ramp into the ball pit, and not knowing whether or not it is the marked ball (The Money Ball.) The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles and preferred embodiment of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to one skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction, operation and embodiment shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

1. A ball game for two or more competitors comprising: a console unit, said console unit having two sides, each side being associated with one of the playing competitors, the sides being divided by a central divider, the console including five tubes on each side associated with each playing competitor; each of the tubes including five key holes for reception of keys; twenty five keys associated with each playing competitor, each of the twenty five keys having a different indicator, and each of the twenty five keys having a ball-blocking portion; four unmarked balls and one marked ball associated with each playing competitor; whereby the twenty five keys associated with each competitor are placed into the key holes on the tubes and whereby the four unmarked balls and one marked ball are placed into the tubes after the keys have been placed into the key holes, one ball in each playing competitor's tube, the balls being supported in the tubes by the ball-blocking portion of the keys; and whereby a playing competitor alternates with the other playing competitor in directing the other playing competitor to remove one key at a time from a key slot until a correct combination of keys have been removed to release the marked ball.
 2. A ball game for two or more competitors comprising: a console unit, said console unit having a plurality of playing sides, each side being associated with one of the playing competitors, the console including an identical plurality of tubes on each playing side, each tube having a predetermined plurality of key holes; a plurality of keys associated with each of the playing competitors, the plurality of keys being an equal number to the predetermined plurality of key holes associated with each playing competitor, each of the keys having a ball blocking portion, and each of the keys associated with each of the playing competitors including a different marking; and a plurality of balls associated with a playing competitor, the plurality of balls being an equal number to the plurality of tubes associated with the playing competitor, wherein all of the balls except for one are unmarked and one is marked; whereby the plurality keys associated with each competitor are placed into the key holes on the tubes and whereby the unmarked balls and marked ball are placed into the tubes after the keys have been placed into the key holes, one ball in each playing competitor's tube, the balls being supported in the tubes by the ball-blocking portion of the keys; and whereby a playing competitor alternates with the other playing competitor in directing the other playing competitor to remove one key at a time from a key slot until a correct combination of keys have been removed to release the marked ball. 